PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Aleksi Kivioja had two goals and an assist for No. 7 Providence Saturday night as they topped Vermont 6-1 in Hockey East action from Schneider Arena to extend their winning streak to nine games Saturday night.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"I really feel like the score didn't reflect the game," said Head Coach Steve Wiedler.  I thought we played a great 2nd period. We lost the small details battle. Blocks and battles were big ones for me. We have to block shots if we play in a tight rink like that. At UConn - similar size rink - we blocked everything in that Saturday game. Tonight, we were kind of in shot lanes, but not all in on getting the block. All that being said I think this was a good test for us, I think this makes us better in the long run.  I really think this helps to redefine what's important for our program.  It's not how you fall, it's how you get back up."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Friars opened the scoring 38 seconds into the game Saturday night. At the end of the first shift for both teams Andrew Centrella found Kivioja alone in front of Aiden Wright and Kivioja redirected his low effort up and over Wright for his sixth goal of the season.
• Providence doubled their advantage with another redirected shot with 4:47 to play in the opening frame. Tanner Adams fired a wrist shot towards Wright, in heavy traffic there were two Friars forwards and two Catamounts right in front. Hudson Malinoski got a piece on the initial shot and put it past Wright for his eighth goal of the year.
• With 7:46 to play in the second period the Catamounts appeared to get on the board as Colin Kessler found the top corner from the slot. However, the officials reviewed the play for five minutes and determined Vermont interfered with the goaltender on the play.
• With 2:20 to play in the middle frame Donovan McCoy scored shorthanded to give the Friars a three-goal lead. On a two-on-two rush he beat Wright to the near post for his second goal of the season.
• John Mustard and Clint Levens scored two more even strength goals for Providence in the opening 6:25 of the third period to make it a commanding 5-0 lead for the Friars.
• Kessler scored on a shorthanded breakaway at the 7:43 mark of the third to break Jack Parsons shutout attempt. It was Kessler's third goal in the last four games.
• Kivioja closed out the scoring with a one-timer in front with 70 seconds left in regulation.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Colin Kessler, UVM's leading scorer, stayed hot in 2026. In the New Year he has five goals and six assists for Vermont.
• Daniel Sambuco blocked a game-high four shots for the Catamounts Saturday night.
• With this evening's 6-1 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $50 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $50 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.

UP NEXT
Vermont returns to historic Gutterson Fieldhouse on Friday, February 13 as they host UMass Lowell on Northfield Savings Bank Night. Action is slated to start at 7 p.m. and Northfield Savings Bank will provide rally towels and cookies for the first 750 fans.

Saturday night the teams will faceoff at 6 p.m. and its Poster Day presented by UVM Print and Mail. The Catamounts will sign autographs in the Gutterson lobby following the game. Saturday is also Valentine's Day and as such it's a Catamount Couples Game if you buy a pair of special tickets at go.uvm.edu/love26 you'll have a chance to have Lake Champlain Chocolates and a rose delivered to your partner during the game, courtesy of Claussen's Florist, Greenhouse and Perennial Farm. To be entered for this special delivery, please purchase tickets through the link below. Inventory is limited, and requests will be fulfilled in the order received. Season Ticket holders wishing to participate in the promotion can sign up at https://uvmathletics.com/sb_output.aspx?form=255.
 
Owen Gund will have the radio call on The Varsity Network and WVMT and the games will air live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan handling play by play.

For news and updates about the Vermont men's hockey program, follow @UVMmhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.